Gratitude, the Brain, and Your Money Story: How Thankfulness Shifts What You See and Believe

This won’t be the first time you’ve heard this…gratitude changes everything.

Maybe this will be the first time you’ve heard this…science backs it up, my friend.

When you practice gratitude regularly, you’re not just cultivating a positive attitude; you’re actually rewiring your brain. Research has shown that consistent gratitude practices stimulate the part of the brain associated with learning, decision-making, and emotional regulation. In other words, gratitude doesn’t just make you feel good. It helps you think better.

MRI studies reveal that gratitude activates the same reward centers as pleasure and trust. These neural pathways strengthen over time, training your brain to look for what’s working rather than what’s lacking. Over weeks and months, gratitude can reduce cortisol levels (the stress hormone), lower blood pressure, and even improve sleep. That’s powerful stuff for anyone - for us women in midlife and beyond, it can be life-changing!

How Gratitude Affects Your Relationship with Money

Let’s apply this to your financial life.

When you focus on what’s ‘wrong’ or ‘not enough’, your nervous system stays in a state of stress. Your body is on high alert, and your financial decisions then come from a place of fear or scarcity.

Gratitude creates a different internal chemistry. It shifts you out of that state of stress, and you start to notice possibilities rather than problems. It’s easier to practice self-compassion, and you can make choices that support your financial well-being rather than sabotage it.

Anchor yourself in appreciation for where you are, the shifts you are making, and your evolving relationship with money. When you do, you create a solid foundation for a healthy money mindset.

Practice Gratitude On Your Financial Journey

Your financial gratitude practice is most effective when you keep it simple, my friend. Decide what feels right for you and is easy enough to do consistently. Here are a few ideas to get you started. Choose from this list or create your own!

• Once a day, name one financial gratitude. “I’m grateful my bills are paid this month.”

• Once a day, thank yourself for one wise financial choice. “Thank you for pausing before buying that impulse item.”

• Keep a financial well-being journal. Once a week, record one way you’re growing in awareness or confidence around money.

• Create positive affirmations that help you express financial gratitude. Repeat them 2-3 times daily. Change them up as needed.

Whatever you choose, these small acknowledgments help you shift patterns of thought. If you’ve been working to shift long-held beliefs like “I’m not good with money” or “I’ll never get ahead,” gratitude is a gentle and powerful way to dismantle them. Gratitude moves you from self-criticism to self-compassion and reminds you that growth is happening, even when it’s gradual.

Keep the Financial Gratitude Flowing

Gratitude is more than a feel-good practice, my friend. It’s a mindset shift that changes how you foster your financial well-being and feel about life!

As a woman in midlife and beyond, you know that money isn’t only about a number in a bank account. It’s about peace, possibility, and personal freedom. Gratitude helps you be patient and kind with yourself as you move from where you are to where you want to be.

Take a deep breath, express a small, easy point of financial gratitude, and stay consistent with your practice. Not only will it change your financial well-being, it will change your life! 

Your Financial Gratitude-in-Action Challenge

This month, practice a daily check-in with your financial gratitude. Download my 30 Days of Financial Gratitude worksheet to record a point of financial gratitude every day in November. At the end of the month, cut the days into strips and place them in a vessel. Pull one out whenever you need a gratitude boost in your financial life.

Download the worksheet and get started today!

While you’re at it, why not boost your financial wellness in other ways, too? Join my free MONEY MATTERS list to receive a monthly email, each with a different money-related challenge, that helps you build your money mindset and grow your personal wealth.

The purpose of this post is to provide information and education (& hopefully some entertainment!). I am not a financial, medical, or mental health professional, so please do not interpret my words as the direction of a financial planner, doctor, or therapist.

I know you're smart and will ALWAYS consult with your physician or another appropriate, accredited professional before implementing any changes to your investments, diet, medication, lifestyle, exercise regimen, supplement regimen, or health practices. After all, you're here to live well, right??

Seriously - consult with your financial or healthcare team and assess your own risk. Verify what you find on the internet. I care about you!